4. On the Road to the Royal Capital
The weather was fine on the road to the royal capital, with a clear blue sky stretching endlessly overhead. The autumn sky is vast and clear, high and cloudless, the bright moon fills our hearts and lifts our spirits…… Wait, what the hell? Why am I suddenly quoting the national anthem? And it's not even autumn—it's closer to early spring right now. No moon in sight, just the sun blazing down relentlessly. Of course, the cool breeze kept it from feeling hot; instead, it was pleasantly warm.
Still, driving this carriage was as boring as ever. Every time we passed into the shade of some overhanging trees, I half-wished the horses would hurry up and drag me back into the sunlight—the sun felt downright welcoming compared to summer's scorch.
"Haa……."
A sigh slipped out naturally from the sheer tedium. A full week had passed since we left that village, with no incidents or accidents to break the monotony. Yeah, it had been over two weeks since we departed Leventen, the city where I'd been scraping by as an adventurer. And all the while, my boredom had only grown.
Cheong-ah, who had been sitting quietly with her eyes closed in meditation, opened them at the sound of my sigh.
"Darling, are you that bored?"
"Yeah, a bit."
"Hmm. Then how about……."
That sly hum in her voice. Her hand started creeping up my thigh, and I quickly shook my head.
"No, not that. Definitely not. Don't."
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"It's not that I don't like it……."
Honestly, in a time this dull, fooling around with Cheong-ah—sucking, licking, whatever—would be fun. Hell, it'd be great, even productive in its own way…… But no. Just no.
"Remember how Aria chewed us out the other day?"
Ever since we'd left the village and I'd gotten a handjob from Cheong-ah, she'd kept tempting me subtly. I'd given in a few times, even gotten a blowjob once. Focusing on that made the boring drive fly by. But all good things come to an end, and misfortune follows fortune.
Our luck ran out when Aria—needing to talk to us—pulled back the tent flap and caught us red-handed. Her voice had exploded in fury for the first time.
'By the laws of the kingdom, public indecency between men and women outdoors is a crime! Ian! Ju Cheong-ah! I understand you're a newlywed couple burning with passion, but to dare commit such an act in the dignified presence of this kingdom's princess!'
She'd raged like that. We got off without punishment because Cheong-ah had chased off the assassins and blocked their attacks entirely, earning her credit…… But just thinking about it made my lips go dry and my mind blank, like my blood had frozen. And these past couple days—no, even now—Aria's been giving us the cold shoulder with that blank expression. Camping's been suffocating.
"That's why no."
I shook my head firmly, and Cheong-ah stared at me before puffing out one cheek.
"……Hmph. You're so mean. I just wanted to ease your boredom as your woman."
"Ah, Cheong-ah, please……."
Why are you making this harder? I fidgeted, placing a hand on her shoulder to soothe her.
That was when it happened.
Thwip—!
Something hurtled toward my head at blinding speed. Cheong-ah's eyes flashed from her pouty sulk, and her sword shot out from its cane sheath like a streak of light.
"Darling…!"
Clang…!
The clear ring of her blade echoed like her name. The projectile bounced off and arced into the air before dropping limply behind me with a thud.
"An… arrow…?"
It was an arrow, but no arrowhead—meaning it wasn't meant to kill. Still, the intent was clear: this was an attack on our carriage.
"W-what…?"
"Darling, stop the carriage first."
"Huh? Oh, right…!"
I nodded frantically, grabbing the reins and slowing the horses to a halt. The wagons behind us braked too. Cheong-ah sheathed her sword, assumed a stance, and scanned ahead warily.
From the cargo wagon behind, Aria and Sierra's startled voices rang out.
"What happened?"
"Is there a problem?"
"An attack."
The tent flap pulled back. Aria peeked out but got yanked back inside by Sierra, who stuck her head out instead.
"An attack?"
"Yes. Here…."
I handed Sierra the arrow. She examined it closely.
"Th-this is……."
"What's wrong, Lady Sierra?"
"This is from the Mountain Kingdom…… I need to tell Aria right away!"
"Wait? What the hell is—"
Sierra dashed back into the wagon. My belated question went unanswered as she vanished inside. Then Cheong-ah called to me.
"Darling."
"Yeah? What?"
"Hide inside with Lady Sierra."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly—"
Before I could question her, a booming laugh—like a bandit chief from some old historical drama—echoed out.
"Wahahahat! What, you blocked that? Damn, those rat bastards weren't lying after all!"
The only difference from a drama was the voice: not a man's, but a rough woman's—thick, husky, and gravelly.
The roar—like a beast's thunderous bellow—penetrated the cargo wagon's tent. Damn it, I thought. Too quiet for too long. Those fuckers finally dragged in that bitch.
"……That damned bitch."
Even if she was her friend…… Aria bit her lip. Sierra asked worriedly,
"A-Aria. What do we do?"
"What can we do? They even shot an arrow without a head, didn't they? You know what that means."
Sierra's face paled at Aria's words. In the belligerent Mountain Kingdom, firing an arrow without a tip was like a ritual—a vow to the goddess of the hunt before war.
"The Mountain Kingdom's declaration of war……."
"Yes, exactly. They've already declared their intent to attack us."
Aria nodded and slowly shed her robe, revealing her blue wavy hair and beautiful face. She strode to her sword, discarded in the corner of the wagon, and picked it up.
"……Prepare yourself, Sierra. Cheong-ah can't handle them all alone."
"Wahahahat! What, you blocked that? Damn, those rat bastards weren't lying after all!"
With that hearty laugh came a group of dozens—armed haphazardly, but moving with disciplined precision, like elite soldiers. Leading them was a beauty with a fierce impression: fiery red hair like a lion's mane wrapping her head, as if embracing the sun. Golden pupils flecked with red glints. Her right eye covered by a black patch, a sword scar peeking beneath. Muscular arms and legs bared in red leather bodysuit. Even under thick leather armor, her massive breasts were unmistakable. A cloak of black beast hide draped her back.
She evoked not just a rough beauty, but a predator ruling the peaks. One flaw: no right arm. Yet it suited her, enhancing her aura of a scarred apex hunter.
She strode forward boldly, like a swaggering warrior, and bellowed,
"You there, Yuldo swordswoman! Nice to meet ya! I'm the captain of the Red Evil Mercenaries—"
She inhaled deeply.
"—the rightful heir to the Mountain Kingdom in the north!"
Huuuuh—.
Her ferocious roar followed.
"Exiled Princess Bellatrix von Pernalid!"
With the shout, she laughed uhahaha! and hefted a greatsword bigger than her torso with her remaining left arm. A blade so massive, thick, and crude it was more sledgehammer than sword—far beyond standard issue. As she drew it, red aura rippled visibly from her body.
Cheong-ah calmly gripped her sword hilt, stance rigid—stiffer than usual.
Watching her, I suddenly thought: Today, Cheong-ah might actually lose.